Transcript Cathy Jamieson

FUTURE OF MATERIALS
MANAGEMENT IN VERMONT:
UNIVERSAL RECYCLING LAW (ACT 148)
FEBRUARY 13, 2014
Josh Kelly & Bryn Oakleaf
Solid Waste Management Program
VT Department of Environmental Conservation
Act 148 changes our view from
“waste” to…
Materials Management
Residential MSW
by percent & weight
Highest amount of materials sent to the landfill are:
 Organics – 28% or ~70,000 tons
o Food scraps were 16.7% or ~41,500 tons
 Paper – 22% or ~55,000 tons
ICI MSW
by percent and weight
Highest amount of materials sent to the landfill are:
 Paper – 28% or ~45,750 tons
 Organics – 18% or ~29,000 tons
o Food scraps were 11.2% or ~18,600 tons
Universal Recycling Law (Act 148 )
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Most significant change to VT solid waste law since 1988
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Approved unanimously by legislature
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Focuses on recyclables and organics
 Mandated recyclables
 Leaf and yard debris, food scraps,
and clean wood
Intent is to provide more consistent and consistent
services statewide, that offer choices and incentives
Phased approach to allow development of infrastructure
Universal Recycling Law (Act 148 )
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State Standardized Symbols – adopted fall 2013
Universal Recycling law summary:
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Bans disposal of:
mandated recyclables by 2015,
 leaf & yard debris and clean wood by 2016,
 food scraps beginning with largest generators in 2014 and
phased in to a full ban by 2020
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Mandates parallel collection by facilities/haulers that
collect trash:
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mandated recyclables by 2014/2015
(at no additional charge for residential recyclables),
leaf & yard debris by 2015/2016, and
 food scraps by 2017
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Universal Recycling law summary:

Phased in mandates for larger generators to divert
food residuals, if there is a facility within 20 miles
2014 for generators > 104 tons/yr
 2015 for generators > 52 tons/yr
 2016 for generators > 26 tons/yr
 2017 for generators > 18 tons/yr
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Municipalities must adopt Unit Based Pricing by 2015
Recycling collection containers must be available in
publically owned places by 2015
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and the Vermont statehouse by 2012
Recycling in Public Spaces
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“Public building” is a
state, county, or
municipal building,
airport terminal, bus
station, school building,
or school.
“Public land” is all
land that is owned or
controlled by a
municipal or state
governmental body.
Collection of recyclables in public spaces
10 V.S.A. §66051(b):
“Beginning July 1, 2015, when a container or containers in a public
building or on public land are provided to the public for use for solid
waste destined for disposal, an equal number of containers shall be
provided for the collection of mandated recyclables. The containers
shall be labeled to clearly show the containers are for recyclables
and shall be placed as close to each other as possible in order to
provide equally convenient access to users.
Bathrooms in public buildings and on public land shall be exempt
from the requirement of this section to provide an equal number of
containers for the collection of mandated recyclables.”
“Mandated Recyclables” –
Includes most commonly recycled materials
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Mandated recyclables:
 Metal:
aluminum and steel cans, aluminum foil,
aluminum pie plates,
 Glass: bottles and jars from foods and beverages,
 Plastic: PET and HDPE plastic bottles, containers and
jugs,
 Paper: corrugated cardboard, white and colored
paper, newspaper, magazines, catalogues, paper mail
and envelopes, boxboard, and paper bags.
Food Recovery Hierarchy
Bill Emerson Good Samaritan Food Donation Act (1996) –
helps protect food donors from liability associated with donated food.
What is a “facility”?
Vermont Technical College’s
Anaerobic Digester
Green Mountain
Compost Facility
So where are these facilities?
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Cookeville Compost - Corinth
Dane Farm - West Charleston
Green Mountain Compost - Williston
Grow Compost - Moretown
Highfields Composting - Wolcott
Hudak Farm - Swanton
Paris Farm - Lyndon
TAM Organics - Bennington
Vermont Compost Co. - Montpelier
Vermont Natural Ag. - Middlebury
Windham SW District - Brattleboro
Wise Worm Compost - Burke
See also Find-A-Composter.com.
Photo courtesy of CVSWMD
Who’s hauling food scraps?
Tote washing. Photo courtesy of CVSWMD
St. Johnsbury Region
• Highfields Center for Composting
• Wise Worm Compost, Terrance Lapointe
White River Junction Region
• Cookville Compost, Bob Sandberg
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Brattleboro Region
•
Triple T Trucking
•
Goodenough Rubbish
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Bennington Region
•
TAM Waste Management
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Central Vermont - CVSWMD
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Chittenden County Region
•
Casella Resource Solutions
•
Gauthier Trucking Co.
•
Myers Container Service
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Moretown/Randolph
•
Grow Compost
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Morrisville Region
•
Highfields Center for Composting
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St. Albans Region
•
Northwest VT Solid Waste Mgmt. District
What can be composted?
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All Food Scraps including
spoiled, rotten, stale:
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Meat, fish, & bones/shells
Milk, cheese, & other dairy
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Veggies & fruits
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Bread, pastas, grains, beans, nuts
Soups & sauces
Eggs & eggshells
Oils & fats
Coffee grounds & filters
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Wood chips, waste
hay and grain
Manures
Landscape debris
(leaves, brush)
Paper, cardboard*
(*contact composter)
Food Scrap Separation 101
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Regular Staff Trainings
In office spaces: 5-gallon buckets - cheap and easy to
clean and carry.
In recreational spaces: secured “
critter proof” containers
Compostable bags
Paper and “Compostable disposables”
Flies like trash cans and food scrap containers:
Keep lids closed
 Empty and clean containers daily
 Some Haulers provide sawdust for odor and fly control in
totes during the summer months (coffee grounds work)
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Benefits of diverting food scraps
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Saves resources.
Reduces GHG emissions.
Sustainable Business Practice – Going Green.
Supports new jobs, businesses and farming.
Value of materials, now considered commodities.
Reduces landfill space needs.
No more smelly trash.
Contact Details & Website
For assistance contact:
[email protected]
[email protected]
802.522.5897
802.522.5783
Web Page www.anr.state.vt.us/dec/wastediv/solid